Just Two Songs Into Her Career, Olivia Rodrigo Has Already Made Hot 100 History

Most musicians need to wait years to get to a point where they even have a chance of debuting a new single inside the top 10 on the Hot 100, Billboard’s weekly ranking of the most-consumed songs in the U.S. To do so, a track needs to rack up thousands of purchases, millions of streams and earn at least minor radio play, all in just its first seven days. That’s a huge feat for the biggest names in the field, let alone a newcomer.

While she may just be getting started on her new musical venture, Olivia Rodrigo has proved herself to be perhaps the most successful musician of all time with a discography as small as hers still is.

On her own, Rodrigo has only released two singles, and as of this week, both of them have debuted inside the Hot 100’s top 10. According to Billboard, no other artist has ever seen their first two releases that have been properly promoted to radio open inside the uppermost tier on the tally, which means the teen star has made history right out of the gate.

Rodrigo shocked the world, including many in the music industry, when her debut proper single “Drivers License” didn’t just make its way to No. 1 on the Hot 100, it debuted there. Even superstars like Drake, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift sometimes have to fight to start their latest releases atop the tally, while Rodrigo seemed to do so with ease. After launching in first place on the most competitive tally in the country, the track held court in the penthouse for eight weeks, and it still stands as the longest-running leader of 2021.

This week, Rodrigo’s follow-up single “Deja Vu” nearly repeats the success of its predecessor, as it begins its time on the Hot 100 at No. 8. At the same time, “Drivers License” settles in at No. 5, giving her control over two spaces inside the loftiest tier on the tally.

Rodrigo got her musical start, at least as far as the general public is concerned, as the star of the Disney+ program High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Of all the songs released from the soundtrack that was borne out of the first season of that show, Rodrigo’s “All I Want” was the only one to find its way to the Hot 100. It eventually peaked at No. 90, though it wasn’t promoted as a true single.

 

Sour, Rodrigo’s debut album, is expected on May 21, at which point it will likely go right to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, giving her a leader on both lists. With just a few songs in her discography, Rodrigo is already one of the most successful pop stars on the planet right now, and she’s already managed feats none before her have…and she’s only just getting started.